Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

There is an urgent need for funds to replace our flow cytometer, which has parts that no longer function properly and will stop being supported by the manufacturer within the next year. Since our machine is obsolete, the company will stop manufacturing parts or provide any service. Flow cytometry is a gold standard method that can quickly and reliably analyse and quantify multiple characteristics of thousands of cells per second. Thus, flow cytometry is a versatile technique used in a variety of fields including nutrition, physiology, biology, chemistry, and physics. In our lab, flow cytometry is a key methodology that is heavily used for the quantification of immune cell profiles in fat tissue. This technology enables us to study immune cells more precisely, uncovering vital information about how these cells function and interact in various conditions. Specifically, our lab is interested in how immune cell populations differ in adipose tissue from different depots, in obese and lean individuals, and in different sexes. Understanding the complex interactions between cells within adipose tissue can provide new knowledge of the spectrum of changes that can occur in healthy women and men, and will be crucial for health applications including advancements in diagnostic methods and therapeutic strategies. The acquisition of a flow cytometer is also critical for innovative research in the natural sciences and engineering by other labs at Concordia. The trainees from my lab rely on this technology as part of their multidisciplinary research training and projects. Learning this technique provides them with skills that are highly marketable to potential employers in biotechnology in the public or private sectors. Ultimately, the flow cytometer will not only elevate our current projects but also position Concordia as a leading institution in cellular research, benefiting both the academic community and health of Canadians.